Artificial intelligence

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Artificial intelligence was considered an advanced technology and required advanced degrees in order to design. (TNG: "Home Soil", "The Measure Of A Man") It was also considered necessary tactical information by other species. (VOY: "Blood Fever")

Artificial intelligence software, while being able to reason and make decisions, was widely regarded as not able to quite achieve the sophistication of a humanoid brain, in particular, its ability for original thought and creativity. (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data"; VOY: "The Thaw") However, because of the close similarity of the behavior to real humanoid behavior, it was an open question in many societies as to whether this software resulted in machines that could achieve the capacity for self-awareness, sentience or emotional feeling. It resulted in significant controversy. (TNG: "The Measure Of A Man"; Star Trek Generations; VOY: "Author, Author")

When the Borg were encountered by the USS Enterprise-D, it was speculated that the cybernetic implants were a form of artificial intelligence linked directly into the humanoid brain. (TNG: "Q Who")

In 2365, EnsignSonya Gomez rationalized her addition of the word "please" to a request for hot chocolate from the replicator as being reasonable given that it was intelligent circuitry. She felt that working with artificial intelligence all the time tended to be dehumanising and suggested courtesy as the remedy, demonstrating it again by thanking the replicator for her beverage. (TNG: "Q Who")

The hibernation computer system of the Kohl settlement created a virtual environment which required humanoid brain activity for its characters to function. Voyager's crew suggested replacing its inhabitants with an artificial intelligence, but it was quickly decided that would be insufficient. (VOY: "The Thaw")